Cable winding apparatus



3952 v F.'L. LE BUS 2,620,996

CABLE WINDING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 12, 1951 2 SHEETS--SHEET 2 INVENTOR.H 7 F L. Le Bus BYC%% c I ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 9, 1952 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE CABLE WINDING APPARATUS Franklyn L. Le Bus, Longview, Tex.

Application January 12, 1951, Serial No. 205,745

8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in hoisting drums or spools forreceiving steel cable, rope, electric lines and the like.

It is well known that a cable or the like being wound onto a spoolshould be wound in a uniform manner to prevent the cable from becomingentangled and damaged. The most common method of controlling the windingof cables is either machinin grooves in the outer periphery of the drumcore or securing suitable grooved bars on the outer periphery of th drumcore. The grooves are usually provided in a continuous helix, in themanner of threads on a bolt, over the entire transverse length of thedrum core to guide the first layer of cable onto the drum in acontinuous helical path. A suitable guide is placed at one end of thedrum core to initiate the second layer of the cable in a reversedhelical path.

The first wind in the second layer will be initially forced in a reversehelical angle a short distance to cross over one wind of the cable inthe first layer. The first wind of the second layer will then follow thegroove between two winds of the first layer in the forward helical path.Subsequently, the first wind of the second layer will cross over anotherwind of the first layer in a reversed direction before the Wind iscompleted. Each subsequent wind of the second layer will be wound in asimilar manner, that is, each wind will cross over two windsvof thefirst layer in two separate reversing movements. It will be readilyappreciated that whenv the cable is wound onto a drum under an extremelyhigh tension, the taught cable will resist all reversing movementsduring the winding operation, and the greater the number of reversingmovements, the more likely it will be that the cable will become chaffedand worn. Also, voids will frequently occur between adjacent winds ofthe second layer to cause entanglement of the cable during the windingand unwinding of the third and subsequent layers.

The present invention contemplates a novel drum for receiving anddispensing steel cable and the like wherein the cable is wound onto thedrum core in a combination helical and parallel path. During each wind,the cable is guided in a helical or oblique path for only a portion ofthe perimeter of the drum core, and is then guided in a path parallel tothe drum flanges for the remainder of the wind. In this manner, eachwind of the second and subsequent layers crosses only one wind of theprevious layer and then follows a groove provided between two winds ofthe previous layer. The reversing movements of the cable are therebyreduced to a minimum. In addition, this invention contemplates novel endfillers or guides adjacent the flanges of the drum to locate and directthe cross overs between the '2 successive layers at the desiredcircumferential position. 7

An important object of this invention is to provide a novel drum forwinding steel cable and the like in a combination helical and parallelpath.

Another object of this invention is to materially increase the servicelife of cable frequently wound and unwound from a drum.

A further object of this invention is to reduce to a minimum thereversing movements of a cable being wound on a drum core.

A still further object of this invention is to provide novel end fillerson a drum for directing the cross-overs between the successive layers ofcable at predetermined circumferential positions.

Another object of this invention is to provide means for winding a cableonto a drum without voids between the adjacent winds.

Another object of this invention is to provide an efficient drum havinga long service life and which may be economically manufactured.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be evident from thefollowing detailed description, read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a novel hoisting drum.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the starting end filler.

Figure 3 is a perspective View of the opposite end filler.

Figure 4 is a plan View of one type of grooved bar used on the drumshown in Fig. 1.

Figure 5 is a plan view of another type of grooved bar used on the drumshown in Fig. 1.

Figure 6 is a typical elevational View of the bars shown in Figs. 4 and5.

Figure 7 is a typical end view of the grooved bars shown in Figs. 4, 5,and 6.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly Fig. 1, referencecharacter 2 designates a hoisting drum, or spool generally comprising acylindrical core 4 having circular flanges 6 and 8 on the opposite endsthereof. An aperture It is provided in the flange 8 to receive the deador non-working end (not shown) of a cable, rope, or the like (not shown)adapted to be wound on the drum 2.

An arcuately shaped starting end filler l2 (Fig. 2) is secured on thedrum core 4 adjacent the flange 8. The large end l4 of the filler i2 istapered for purposes as will be hereinafter set forth and is placedessentially conterminous with the aperture H] to assure free access tothe aperture I0. The inner face N5 of the filler l2, as clearly shown inFig. l, is tapered outwardly from the large end I4 of the filler l2 forpurposes as will be hereinafter set forth. The outer face l8 of thefiller I2 is straight to abut the inner face of the flange 8, and asmall chamfer 20 (Fig. 2) may be provided on the side face l8 adjacentthe inner periphery thereof to assure a close fit of the filler 12 tothe flange 8, particularly if the flange 8 has been welded (not shown)to the core 4. It will be noted that the filler 12 extends around lessthan fifty per cent of the circumference of the core 4.

A second arcuate end filler 22 (Figs. 1 and 3) is secured to the core 4adjacent the flange 6. The end filler 22 is the same length as, and isdisposed in alignment with, the starting end filler i2. The inner face24 of the filler 22 is tapered in a manner similar to the inner face I6of the filler l2. The outer face 26 of the filler 22 is straight to abutthe flange 6 and a small chamfer 28 is provided on the side face 26adjacent the inner periphery thereof. A groove 30 is provided in aportion of the outer periphery of the filler 22 communicating with thelarge or wide end 32 thereof. The groove 32 gradually rises to a pointof extinction 3% where it communicates with a smooth surface 36extending over approximately one half the length of the filler 22. Ashoulder 38 communicates with the surface 36 and is tapered in adirection opposite to the side face 24 for the purposes as will behereinafter set forth.

Two types of grooved bars GB and 22 (Figs. 4-7) are secured in alternateend to end relationship around the core 1 between the end fillers l2 and22 to form a continuous groove. Each of the grooved bars iii and 42 issemicircular, as shown in Fig. 6, and is equal in width to the width ofthe large ends i l and 32 of the end fillers l2 and 22 respectively.Furthermore, each of the bars 40 and 42 is provided with a groove 64 inthe outer periphery thereof as shown in Fig. 7. Also, a chamfer 35 isprovided on each side face of each of the bars 28 and 42 adjacent theinner periphery thereof, to facilitate the welding of the bars to thedrum core 3. As clearly shown in Fig. each bar 40 is bent at 6 and 55]to provide an angled portion for the bar equal in length to the lengthof the end fillers l2 and 22, and conform ng to the tapered side facesi6 and 22 of the fillers I2 and 22. The extreme ends of the bars 2G arestraight to mate with the ends of the bars 22 as will be more fullyhereinafter set forth.

The bars 62 are straight to form the parallel portions of the continuousgroove extending from the aperture iii to the large end 32 of the endfiller 22.

Operation When installing the end fillers l2 and 22, and I the groovedbars 25 and 4-2 on the drum 2, the end fillers i2 and 22 are firstsecured to the drum core 4 adjacent the flanges and 8 in alignedrelationship as previously set forth. One of the bars :32 is thensecured to the drum core 4 adjacent the fiange 8 with one end thereofadjacent the aperture I 8 on the side opposite the large end M of thefiller (2. A bar 62 is then secured to the drum core s in end to endrelationship with the previously secured. bar 32 with the angled portionthereof between the bends 38 and 5B in abutting relation with thetapered side face E8 of the filler E2. The remaining bars 42 and &2 arethen placed in alternate end to end relation on the core 2 until one ofthe bars 22 comes into end to end relation with the large end 32 of thefiller 22. In the event the last bar 32 secured to the drum core doesnot contact the large end 32 of the filler 22, an additional bar 62 maybe cut to the desired length and inserted in the remaining space. Thegroove 44 of the last bar 42 will then communicate with the groove inthe end filler 22. As clearly shown in Fig. 1, all of the helical oroblique and parallel portions of the continuous groove will be in thesame circumferential position over the entire length of the drum core 4.In the event the length of the drum core 4 does not equal the width ofthe bars or 42 multiplied by a whole number, suitable spacers (notshown) may be placed between the adjacent sides of the grooved bars topreclude a gap being provided at one end of the drum core 4.

To wind a cable or rope (not shown) onto the drum 2, one end of thecable is secured in the aperture l9, and the remainder of the cable islaid out or held, preferably under tension, in a direction transverse tothe longitudinal center line of the drum 2. The drum 2 is then rotatedin a counterclockwise direction (referring to the outer face of theflange 3) by suitable machinery (not shown). It will be apparent that asthe first layer of the cable is wound onto the drum 2, the cable willfollow the continuous groove formed by the bars 46 and 42.

As the first layer is completed, the cable will contact the groove 30 inthe large end 32 of the end filler 22 and be raised onto the smoothsurface 36. The tapered shoulder 38 will then force the cable in areverse direction across the last wind in the first layer into theparallel groove between the last and next to last winds of the firstlayer. It will be noted that the cross over made by the first wind inthe second layer will be directly above the angled or helical portion ofthe last Wind in the first layer to confine the angled portions of thelayers in a predetermined and confined portion of the circumference ofthe drum core 4.

During the formation of the second wind in the second layer, the cablewill be guided in a reverse direction by the angled portion of the firstwind in the same circumferential location. The remaining winds of thesecond layer will be guided in a manner similar to the second wind untilthe second layer is completed.

As the last wind of the second layer is completed, the cable willcontact the flange 8 and be forced outwardly along the flange 8 to aposition on top of the last wind of the second layer to begin the firstwind of the third layer. Upon continued rotation of the drum 2, thecable will be guided across the angled portion of the last wind in thesecond layer in a direction toward the flange 6 and enter the parallelgroove between the last two winds of the second layer. The angledportions of the third layer will be formed on top of the angled portionsof the second and first layers, permitting the major portion of thecable in the third layer to be wound parallel to the drum flanges 6 and8 in the parallel grooves formed by the cable in the second layer. It isapparent that subsequent layers placed on the drum 2 will be wound inthe same pattern.

The end fillers i2 and 22 obviously determine the length of the angledportions of the bars 40 between the points 48 and 50, which will varyfor each size of drum utilized. The percentage of the circumference ofthe drum core 4 covered by the obliquely disposed grooves may range fromone to fifty percent, depending upon the particular application. Whenthe cable is wound parallel to the drum flanges '6 and 8, the cable inthe successive layers conforms neatly and efiiciently to the groovesbetween the winds of the previous layers to prevent the cable frombecoming entangled and chafied, therefore, the length of the obliquegroove portions are made as short as possible. However, a taut cable, aspreviously set forth, will resist all reversing movements during thewinding thereof, therefore, the oblique grooves must be made ofsuflicient length to provide practical cross-overs. As a result ofexperimentation, it is believed the optimum length of the oblique grooveportions is approximately twenty to twenty-five percent of thecircumferential distance around the drum core 4.

Although the most practical method of grooving the drum core 4 isundoubtedly by the use of the grooved bars 30 and 42, it will be readilyunderstood that the desired grooves may be obtained in several differentways, such as casting or machining (not shown) the drum core 4, orsecuring a continuous grooved bar (not shown) thereon, for example.

From the foregoing it is apparent that the present invention provides anovel hoisting drum wherein a cable or the like may be wound onto thedrum in a combination helical and parallel path to reduce the reversingmovements of the cable to a minimum. The greater portion of the cablewill be wound parallel to the drum flanges, thereby obtaining a smoothlywound cable without voids between the adjacent winds which may causeentanglement and chafiing of the cable. The service life of the cableand efficiency of the winding operations will be materially increased.It is also apparent that the present invention provides a pair of novelend fillers or guides to locate the cross-overs between the successivelayers of cable in predetermined angular positions on the drum core.

Changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of parts asheretofore set forth in the specification and shown in the drawings, itbeing understood that any modification in the precise embodiment of theinvention may be made within the scope of the following claims withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a hoisting drum comprising a cylindrical core, flanges at theopposite ends of the core, an arcuate end filler on said core adjacenteach of said flanges in aligned relationship, a tapered inner side faceon each of said end fillers, a plurality of helically disposed arcuatebars arranged along the drum core between said end fillers, a pluralityof arcuate bars disposed in parallel relation with the flanges and inend to end relationship with said first mentioned bars, and a groove inthe outer periphery of all of said bars providing a continuouscombination helical and parallel groove between said end flanges.

2. In a cable winding apparatus comprising a drum having an essentiallycylindrical core with flanges at the opposite ends thereof, meansproviding a continuous winding groove on the outer periphery of saidcore between said flanges, portions of said groove being parallel tosaid flanges, and portions of said groove being at an angle to saidflanges.

3. In a cable winding apparatus comprising a drum having an essentiallycylindrical core with flanges at the opposite ends thereof, grooved barmeans encircling the core between the flanges providing a continuouswinding groove, portions of said bar means being disposed parallel tothe drum flanges, and portions of said bar means being disposed at anangle to the drum flanges.

4. In a cable winding apparatus comprising a drum having an essentiallycylindrical core with flanges at the opposite ends thereof, a continuousgroove in the outer periphery of the core encircling the core aplurality of times, the greater portion of each turn of said groovearound the core being parallel to the drum flanges, and the remainder ofeach turn being disposed at an angle to the drum flanges.

5. In a cable winding apparatus comprising a drum having an essentiallycylindrical core with flanges at the opposite ends thereof, a taperedend filler at each end of the core in aligned relationship, a pluralityof semi-circular shaped bars secured in end to end relation on the drumcore, grooves in the outer periphery of said bars providing a continuouswinding groove, a plurality of said bars being disposed in line withsaid fillers and at an angle to the drum flanges, and the re mainder ofsaid bars being disposed parallel to the drum flanges.

In a, cable winding apparatus comprising a drum having an essentiallycylindrical core with nanges at the opposite ends thereof, tapered endfillers at the opposite ends of the drum core to initiate thecross-overs between successive layers of cable being wound on the drum,means providing a continuous winding groove on the outer periphery ofsaid core between said flanges, portions of said groove being parallelto said flanges, and portions of said groove being at an angle to saidflanges.

7. In a cable winding apparatus comprising a drum having an essentiallycylindrical core with flanges at the opposite ends thereof, tapered endfillers at the opposite ends of the drum core to initiate thecross-overs between successive layers of cable being wound on the drum,grooved bar means encircling the core between the flanges providing acontinuous winding groove, portions of said bar means being disposedparallel to the drum flanges, and portions of said bar means beingdisposed at an angle to the drum flanges.

8. In a cable winding apparatus comprising a drum having an essentiallycylindrical core with flanges at the opposite ends thereof, tapered endfillers at the opposite ends of the drum core to initiate thecross-overs between successive layers of cable being wound on the drum,a continuous groove in the outer periphery of the core encircling thecore a plurality of times, the greater portion of each turn of saidgroove around the core being parallel to the drum flanges, and theremainder of each turn being disposed at an angle to the drum flanges.

FRANKLYN L. LE BUS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 110,980 Lawton Jan. 17, 1871480,158 Wardwell, Jr Aug. 2, 1892 2,204,938 Le Bus June 18, 19402,216,819 Le Bus Oct. 8, 1940

